Meet Isabel Gomes-McCann, candidate for Rochester school committee

ROCHESTER — Isabel Gomes-McCann is running for the Rochester Memorial School Committee position for the first time. She is focused on being apolitical and serving the district's students first. 

Gomes-McCann has lived in Rochester for over 30 years. She worked in molecular biology for 20 years in academia and in the biotech industry. 

For the past 19 years, Gomes-McCann has been involved with the area school system volunteering in various programs. 

She has volunteered in Rochester Memorial School three days a week, assisted in the library and volunteered for Project Grow, an education program for preschoolers and special needs students in the Old Rochester Regional School District. 

This is Gomes-McCann’s first time running for a municipal position and she said she wants to help fix various problems in the district while being completely apolitical. 

“I felt that we needed somebody who was truly apolitical and really wanted to focus on all of the children at Rochester Memorial and the staff, which is what makes that school so great to make sure it stays that way,” Gomes-McCann said. 

She said that she wants schools to be a place for education and preparing students for their roles in society. 

One of her main goals is to advocate for funding for the state mandates put on all schools. 

The candidate wants more funding so area schools can maintain their staffing levels which “keeps the greatness” of the school. 

Her main concerns are balancing the budget and keeping funding for special education programs. Having a son who used some of the special education services, Gomes-McCann said she knows how necessary funding is. 

She has previous experience in managing budgets, teaching and negotiating in her professional and volunteer work. 

The candidate studied French and Spanish and has been a tutor for multiple age groups and subjects.

“I think I have a very good grasp on children's needs in education and various children across many subjects,” Gomes-McCann said. 

Gomes-McCann said she is good at working on a team and meeting people where they are. 

She said communication is important and her experience working with administrators, teachers, parents and students will serve well in the position. 

“I've practiced a lot of the skills that are necessary and for me, one of the most important ones is working on a team,” she said. “We'd be kidding ourselves if we thought that one person on a school committee is the one on which everything's going to hinge.”